Preserving land for the generations to come
Source: The York Dispatch, by Eyana McMillan
May 25, 2007
Group's goal: 10,000 acres by 2010
For generations to come.
That's why local farmland owners are donating conservation easements on their properties to the Farm & Natural Lands Trust of York County.
During the organization's 17th annual meeting last week in Springfield Township, owners of nine local farm areas were honored for their donations.
"If we don't do this, young farmers aren't going to be able to buy farms in the future," Sandy Bailey of Codorus Township. "This is the only way they're going to have land to buy."
She and her husband, Jim, donated easements on 156 acres -- a combination of two farming locations -- by signing up their acres for the program designed to preserve the lands for farm use and protect them from development.
The Farm and Natural Lands Trust of York County, based at 156 N. George St. in York City, preserves agricultural, wooded and open-space land by putting permanent easements on the property.
While landowners are not paid for granting such easements, they could be eligible to receive tax breaks.
The Baileys were among nine couples who received plaques and designated a total of 527 acres for easement.
With their help, the trust is getting closer to meeting its goal to have 10,000 preserved acres by 2010.
So far, 6,174 acres have been preserved, which means the trust has to get at least 1,000 acres donated per year for the next three years, said Jackie Kramer, the trust's executive director.
"We're challenging ourselves, and we're doing everything we can to reach out to people," she said. "We have community meetings, and we're calling land owners. We're out to find people who are committed to land preservation."
Local officials attended the event, including county Commissioners Lori Mitrick and Doug Kilgore -- who were defeated in the recent primary election -- and state representatives Keith Gillespie, R-Springettsbury Township, and Ron Miller, R-Jacobus.
The trust's meeting was held on the farmland property of Dave and Linda Davidson, who recently designated 91 acres for easement. Dave Davidson is a member of the trust's board of directors.
"This farm has been in the family since the 1940s," said Dave Davidson, an engineer. "Zoning is only as permanent as the local government wants it to be. The only way to make sure it's going to stay like this is to do (an) easement."
He said there has been a lot of pressure to develop the land, which is not far from Interstate 83.
"We hear 83," said Davidson. "We're on the front line of urban sprawl. The township is trying to do its best to keep sprawl out."
Herb and Melba Bomberger, both of Carroll Township, put 18 acres in the trust's program and are working to get more farmland owners to do the same.
The Bombergers said they're working on a petition to ask township officials to allow an agricultural security area in Carroll Township so farms would be preserved under the Agricultural Security Law, which protects farmers and landowners from legal challenges, such as nuisance lawsuits, and condemnation.
"We have development taking place in the township, but no farms have been preserved yet," said Herb Bomberger, who serves on Northern High School's agriculture advisory committee.
The Farm & Natural Lands Trust also recognized Stan and Nona Brown, owners of Brown's Orchards and Farm Market in Loganville, for adding 36 acres of Yellow Church Road Farm in Springfield Township to the easement program.
Stan Brown, former president of the trust's board, said he has a mission to preserve a farm, so young farmers will have a place to work and live.
"I love working with soil, growing things, planting seeds, trees and seeing the results and marketing to the consumer," he said. "With so much development going on, we only have so much land to work with. We can leave room for development, but we have to preserve farms, too."
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